10 new (and old) reasons the Melbourne Night Noodle Markets will rock

Andrea McGinniss

The Bao Brothers will be at the Melbourne Night Noodle Markets 2018. Photo: Supplied

It's back! For 18 nights in November Melbourne will sizzle with the flavour, smells and sounds of the Night Noodle Market under the twinkling lights at Birrarung Marr. Grab your mates and get ready for an exciting mix of 20 new and returning hawker-style stalls, DJs and live music to get summer off to a rocking start.

New in 2018

Son in Law Popular Collingwood Thai eatery Son in Law makes its Night Noodle Market debut with its modern spin on authentic Thai cuisine. Will there be son-in-law eggs? Probably. Watch this space.

Red Spice Road For more than 10 years, Red Spice Road has been bringing the best of Asia's food sensations to Melbourne diners. Now you'll be able to enjoy it under the twinkling lights of the Night Noodle Market. Sure to be popular.

Bao Brothers The clue's in the name - street food eatery Bao Brothers specialises in gua baos - which literally means steamed bun in Taiwanese. Take a bao and welcome to the festival for the first time, brothers.

N2 Extreme Gelato are back for 2018. Photo: Supplied

David's Fresh from celebrating 20 years as a tea store turned iconic Melbourne Shanghai cuisine restaurant, David's joins the Night Noodle Market in 2018 with tried and tested dishes that are no fly-by-night instagram novelties. Queue here for real quality.

Oriental Teahouse Tea and yum cha are the order of the day at both Oriental Teahouses, who are also moving in to the Night Noodle Market for the first time. Expect classic dumplings as well as inventive new spins. And tea. Always tea.

Our favourites return

Hoy Pinoy ​No-fuss authentic Filipino street food that fills the air with the scent and smoke of roast meat cooking over the open air grill. These guys stick to the basics, and why wouldn't you, when they're done so well?

Wonderbao Because baos are always a good idea. These pillowy soft buns filled with sticky sweet yet savoury fillings are the perfect one-handed snack. Perfect when you need to balance a refreshing drink in the other hand - or just swing hands with your bae.

All of the drinks South Australian winery Brand's Laira will bring the best of Coonawarra to Melbourne with a pop-up Cellar Door, the James Squire Night Terrace will be the perfect spot to sip your beer, the Amplify Kombucha bar will offer festival goers bottomless brewed Kombucha on the house, and you know what you'll be sipping in the Pimm's Garden bar.